Prominent scholar and theatre director Syed Jamil Ahmed has said as drama is a mirror of contemporary life, it needs to influence the thoughts of the audience and that is why asking questions is essential in any play.
He made the remark while speaking at a session titled “Unconfined” on the third day of Dhaka Lit Fest on Saturday.
The session was moderated by teacher and researcher Shahman Moishan.
Syed Jamil Ahmed, while talking about his directed play “Mantras 4.48”, said: "I have shown in my play the image of a lost person.
The imminent scholar thinks that the dramas should be political and contemporary. "If there is no practice of praxis (practice from theory) in the play, it is no longer a play."
When asked about his early theatrical thinking and contemporary drama, Jamil Ahmed simply admitted: "I used to think that screening was more important than acting. But in my contemporary dramas, I think the actor's thoughts are more important than the stage, the scene.”
On freedom of speech in stage plays, Jamil Ahmed said: "Freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of criticism is mandatory in every branch of the industry. If there is no freedom of speech, drama will not exist.”
Syed Jamil Ahmed reminisced his experiences in 1971 in front of the young generation at the session.
Regarding the question of dementia, director Shahman Moishan said: "Through research on Jamil Ahmed Sir's Indigo Revolt, we have come to know that many of this generation do not know about the Indigo Revolt that happened in the nineteenth century."
Syed Jamil Ahmed said: “After 150 years, maybe we can forget about the liberation war as well.”
Regarding Islamophobia in films or dramas, Jamil Ahmed said: “I speak against people using Islam for their own interests in my directed dramas or in my thoughts.”